Miami Archbishop Pushes Senate to Extend Haitian Temporary Protected Status Before Deadline

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami is intensifying efforts to persuade the U.S. Senate to pass legislation preserving work rights for Haitian migrants as their temporary immigration status expires. The 75-year-old church leader, fluent in Haitian Creole and a veteran advocate for the community, traveled to Washington on Monday to meet with lawmakers regarding the crisis facing TPS beneficiaries.

The Monday expiration of Temporary Protected Status leaves more than 300,000 individuals vulnerable to deportation and immediate job loss. Within the Archdiocese of Miami’s Catholic Health Services operations alone, over 40 employees will lose their work permits and employment, Wenski explained, highlighting the impact on healthcare facilities across the region.

Wenski backs H.R. 1689, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a New York Democrat who introduced the measure February 27. The House approved the bill April 16 by a vote of 224-204, prompting Wenski to call on Senate leadership to take action. A discharge petition—a procedural tool that forces stalled legislation to the floor for a full vote—could advance the measure, which would grant Haitians a three-year TPS extension, Wenski said.

In a recent statement, Wenski framed the issue as one of fundamental values, asserting that American immigration policy should balance legal enforcement with “justice and mercy.” He emphasized that strengthening the nation requires “compassionate and humane solutions that protect family unity” and uphold human dignity, rather than restrictive approaches that undermine humanitarian principles.